Carrier device for construction blocks



Dec. 25, 1951 G. O. INGRAM ETAL CARRIER DEVICE FOR CONSTRUCTION BLOCKS Filed April 18, 1950 INVENTOR. George 0. lngram By 4/66/7 C 0/7/ 5 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 OFFICE CARRIER DEVICE FOR CONSTRUCTION BLOCKS George 0. Ingram and Albert Contos,

Toledo, Ohio Application April 18, 1950, Serial No. 156,552

This invention relates to tools-for carrying building blocks such, for example, as cinder and concrete blocks as well, as tile or the like, and an object is to produce a new and improved tool of the above character, which facilitates the handling and carrying of building blocks or the like and insures that the blocks will not come loose from the tool due to jars, rough handling and the like.

Another object is to produce the main body of a tool of this character from a single piece of sheet metal and enable the parts to be readily and inexpensively assembled.

Due to the weight, size and roughness of construction blocks, their handling and transportation is extremely onerous and limits the number of them which can be carried by hand at one time. According to this invention, these difliculties and objections are overcome in an extremeley simple and practical manner.

For purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front perspective view of the tool attached to two construction blocks and illustrating the manner by which they may be readily carried;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tool applied to a single building block;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the carrying tool; and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a block carrying tool, the main body of which is formed of a single piece of sheet metal preferably blanked and then bent to the proper configuration and having a pair of parallel laterally spaced hook portions l and II, each having a pair of vertically spaced arms l2 and I3 111-- tegrally connected by a vertical arm M at the front. The arm 12 is substantially shorter than the arm 53 and is formed with a series of teeth !5 which incline rearwardly arm a direction away roin the vertical arm Hi. Integral with the rear end of the arm l3 and projecting at substantially right angles therefrom, is an upwardly extending arm portion 16 which is integral with a transversely extending hand grip ll which is a piece of the single blank of sheet metal bent downwardly and thence upwardly as indicated on Figure l, the free edge abutting against the opposite edge portion of the handle or grip portion. This provides an exceedingly satisfactory handle since there are no rough edges with which the por- 2 Claims. (01.294-15) 2 tions of the hand receiving the weight engage. To reenforce the front end portion of the tool, a rod [8 joins the two vertical arm portions hi, the ends being spot-welded or riveted to the ad- J'acent arms of the tool.

It will be seen from an inspection of Figures 1 and 2 that in use, the arms is? and ii may be hooked through openings A and B in the construction blocks C and D respectively. In this position, the handle projects upwardly away Irom the adjacent surfaces of the blocks and enables the blocks to be conveniently lifted and carried. The teeth tend to bite into the material of the block and militate against the block coming loose from the tool. In order further to insure that the tool will not come loose from the block, a sheet metal yoke iii having a pair of laterally spaced legs 26 and 2| which are connected by an integral brace 22, is pivoted to a pin or rod 23 which is substantially co-axial with the handle or grip ll and is riveted or spot-welded to retain it in position, it being observed that the rod 23 extends centrally through the hollow grip. At the free ends of each of the legs 26 and 2 I, is a tooth-like end 24 which bites into the material of the blocks in opposition to the teeth iii. As will be seen particularly in Fig. l and Fig. 2, the engagement of yoke IS with the block or blocks depends on the motion of the block or blocks as the lifting operation begins. With the device positioned as illustrated in Fig. l or Fig. 2, the block or blocks will tend to pivot slightly about the innermost teeth on arms II and It, with the surface of the block or blocks abutting arm ii tending to move towards yoke iii. The yoke is is thus placed under compression, with teeth 24 biting into the block material, thereby providing a firmer grip on the block or blocks being carried. As will be further apparent from Fig. l and Fig. 2, the innermost ends of arms I I and i2 fall short of a longitudinal line running through the center of gravity of the block or blocks so that the pivotal action about the innermost teeth on arms H and I2 is assured, and thus pressure is brought to bear by the block surface against teeth 24 on the ends of yoke 19. When it is desired to release the blocks from the tool, the yoke it is swung upwardly away from the blocks as will be readily apparent.

The lateral spacing of the arms II and I2 of the tool is such as to enable it to hook into a single construction block as indicated inFigure 2, the yoke straddling the outside of the horizontal arms I3 and engaging the material of r a V a the outer surface of the block as will be readily apparent.

From the above description, it will be manifest that we have produced an exceedingly simple and inexpensive tool which greatly facilitates the lifting and carrying of construction blocks or the like. The tool can be inexpensively produced rrom sheet metal stampin gs and is so designed as to be rigid and sturdy and withstand the rough usage to which tools of this character are ordinarily subjected. The positive manner in which the block or blocks is secured or re: tained during the lifting or carrying contributes substantially to the usefulness of the tool.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and op: eration may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A block carrying toolcomprising a pair of laterally spaced parallel rigid arms, each arm being substantially c-shaped to loosely engage a construction block or tile, the free end of the load-carrying member of each of the c shaped arms falling short of the center of gravity of the block, a rigid outwardly extending portion on each arm disposed at right angles thereto;

and a pressure arm pivotally mounted on said 7 handle portion, said pressure arm having a free end disposable towards the inner ends of said 0- shaped arms for biting into the outer surface of the blockwhen the latter tips within said 0- shapedarins' iii response to lifting of said tool.

2. A block carrying tool as claimed in claim 1, said pressure arm comprising a leg co-axially pivoted to the handle, and a tooth-like element on the freeend of the leg to bite into the block during the carrying operation.

7 GEORGE O. INGRAM.

ALBERT CONTOS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

